Arizona Cardinals safety Deone Bucannon: 'I want to be a playmaker'

Arizona Cardinals safety Deone Bucannon (36) works during an OTA last week.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals rookie safety Deone Bucannon has all of the physical tools necessary to be successful on the field in the NFL.

The Cardinals' first-round draft pick also knows that doesn't mean anything when it comes to playing at football's highest level.

"Everyone out here has the physical tools to be a great player; it's just a matter of who's going to be smarter," Bucannon said Tuesday after the team's first minicamp practice. "That's my goal, to be the smartest player out there. I want to learn the playbook the best I can."

Bucannon has plenty of experience with what it takes to be successful on the football field. He was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 in his final season at Washington State, and he led the conference in both interceptions and tackles.

But the 6-foot-1, 208-pounder didn't rack up those stats purely through physical ability -- though he has plenty of that, too. Bucannon said he prides himself on being one of the smartest players on the field, and that's something he expects to continue into his NFL career.

"There's always room for improvement," he said. "I understand the defense, now I want to take it to the next level. I want to be a playmaker."

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Bucannon took an important step Tuesday after missing time with a foot injury during OTAs last week, adding that "he needs it, psychologically, just to get out there to play."

About the Author

Alex Williams
School: University of Akron, University of Arizona
When you started with Bonneville Phoenix: Sept., 2013
Favorite sports memory: Tie between flying from Akron, Ohio to Phoenix to be at the 2008 NFC Championship and being at Game 7 of the 2001 World Series
Favorite all-time athlete: Jim Thome
Favorite sports movies: Tin Cup, Major League, The Waterboy
Most crushing sports moment: Santonio Holmes' go-ahead touchdown in Super Bowl 43